Cost of Living in the Netherlands for Students

Uttara R

25/08/2022

8 min read

Overview

The Netherlands, also known as Holland, is located in Northwestern Europe. The country borders the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany in the North Sea. The official languages in the Netherlands are Dutch, English, West Frisian and Papiamento.

Netherlands being one of the popular countries for students planning to study abroad after the 3 popular countries the students are worried about the cost that they will incur when they travel to the Netherlands. We have compiled all the expenses that the students will incur when they travel, the best universities and their jobs available in the Netherlands.

How much money you need to show for a Dutch student visa

For a student residence permit at a university or university of applied sciences (hbo), the IND requires you to show €1,130.77 a month for 2026, which is €13,569.24 for 12 months. This amount is valid from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 and is updated every year. The IND application fee for a study residence permit is €254.

At the ECB reference rate of €1 = ₹108.99 on 29 September 2026, €1,130.77 is about ₹1,23,243 a month and €13,569.24 is about ₹14,78,911. The rupee amount you pay will depend on the rate on the day.

Monthly cost of living in the Netherlands for students

According to Study in NL, students in the Netherlands spend an average of €1,000 to €1,500 a month. Rent is the largest cost, and it depends heavily on the city.

Source: Nibud (2024), published by Study in NL. Rent in the private market is higher, and it varies widely by city: see the city table below. For comparison, the IND requires students to show €1,130.77 a month (valid for 2026). Rupee amounts are approximate, converted at the ECB reference rate of €1 = ₹108.99 on 29 September 2026.

Accommodation :

In the Netherlands, the accommodation represents the largest portion of your living expenses, and it accounts for the majority of your outgoing costs. Students have a variety of housing alternatives to select from, including individual apartments, communal housing, dorms, university residence halls, and shared apartments. The most preferred kind of housing for overseas students is student housing or apartments.

On average, a room in the Netherlands costs about €550 a month, and most rooms cost between €450 and €1,000 a month depending on the city and what the rent includes. Rooms rented from private landlords cost more: Kamernet’s Q2 2026 rent report, an estimate from private listings, puts the average at €643 a month.

Median rent for a student room from a private landlord, April to June 2026, from the Kamernet Q2 2026 rent report. These are estimates from private listings, not official figures. Rooms from student housing associations are usually cheaper.

Food and Groceries :

Nibud estimates that students spend about €244 a month on groceries. Eating out costs more: Study in NL lists about €3 for a coffee in a café, €4 for a cheese sandwich and €12.50 for dinner in a typical student restaurant.

Transportation :

Commuting within the city for work or for classes are factors that need to be calculated when looking at the costs incurred per month. There are different discounts that the students get when they are in universities for buses or trains which can make the cost a little cheaper.

Nibud estimates €67 a month for transport. Many students cycle. A single bus ticket within a city costs around €2, and a discount card gives 40% off train tickets outside rush hour.

Household bills :

When residing in the Netherlands, a number of household expenses are involved. Electricity, water, cellphone, and other utility bills should all be paid on time. The majority of the time, the rent already includes all of these expenses, but in the event that it doesn’t, you must take into account the cost of various expenses while living in the Netherlands.

Check your rental contract to see which of these bills your rent already includes.

Health insurance depends on whether you work. If you only study, you are not allowed to take out Dutch public health insurance; you need cover from India with enough coverage, or a private policy. Once you take a part-time job, Dutch public health insurance becomes compulsory. Nibud estimates it at €133 a month.

Entertainment :

There are many other things that students can do other than just studying, going to college and working. The social aspect of life is also very important for everyone since it helps build connections and helps the student meet a lot of people and engage in the culture of the country.

Nibud estimates students spend about €239 a month on leisure and sports. Many bars, restaurants, museums and cinemas offer student discounts when you show your student card.

Miscellaneous :

Other day-to-day costs, such as toiletries, household items and clothes, depend on your habits. Nibud estimates €41 a month for study books and materials.

Cost of master in Netherlands :

Cost of the universities is something to consider when choosing the place and the location. There are multiple universities in the Netherlands that are ranked among the top 100 globally. For students from outside the EU/EEA, Study in NL puts average tuition at €9,000 to €20,000 a year for a bachelor’s and €12,000 to €30,000 a year for a master’s.

Here is where the ten universities in this guide rank in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026:

Tips to save money :

Cooking at home

A great way to save money every month is to prepare all the meals at home since the cost of purchasing the meals outside is much more expensive than at home. This method of buying food outside might sound like an easier method but it hurts both financially and physically.

Using public transportation

Public transportation is a great way to travel across the country and it is easier to use for commuting to classes since the public transportation system is much better regulated and accessible in the Netherlands.

Sharing the room with a roommate

You can reduce your costs by sharing a house, which also splits energy, water and internet bills.

Student Discounts

The students are offered extensive discounts when traveling in the country for a lot of the public transportation, museums, parks and a few food places. If the discounts are used feasibly then it adds up to quite a large amount at the end.

Part time jobs

The part time jobs act as a supplement income for students that want the extra cash to spend on other things or going out with friends. From 1 July 2026 the Dutch minimum wage is €14.99 an hour before tax for workers aged 21 and over (it is lower for younger workers). As a non-EU student you can work up to 16 hours a week during term, or full-time in June, July and August, and your employer needs a work permit (TWV) for you.

Most popular cities in Netherlands :

1    Amsterdam  

Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands. Found within the Dutch province of North Holland,Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the “Venice of the North”, due to the large number of canals which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2     Den Haag    

The Hague is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. It is the administrative and royal capital of the Netherlands and its seat of government, as well as the capital of the province of South Holland. It hosts the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. It has been described as the de facto capital of the Netherlands.

3     Utrecht    

Utrecht is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very center of mainland Netherlands.

4     Leiden    

Leiden is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The city forms one densely connected agglomeration with its suburbs Oegstgeest, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten and Zoeterwoude. Leiden is located on the Oude Rijn, at a distance of some 20 km (12 mi) from The Hague to its south and some 40 km (25 mi) from Amsterdam to its north.

5     Eindhoven

Eindhoven is the fifth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country. It is the largest city in the province of North Brabant. Eindhoven was originally located at the confluence of the Dommel and Gender.

Conclusion :

Plan for rent first. It is the largest monthly cost and varies most between cities. Then check that your funds meet the IND’s monthly requirement for your study permit.

Hope you are now ready to move to the Netherlands

Good Luck.

Sources (all accessed 30 September 2026):

• IND: required amounts (study amounts 2026)
• IND: fees for an application
• Study in NL: daily student expenses and cost of living (Nibud 2024 figures)
• Study in NL: finding a place to live
• Kamernet Q2 2026 rent report (estimates from private listings)
• Study in NL: healthcare insurance
• Government of the Netherlands: minimum wage amounts from 1 July 2026
• IND: employing a foreign national (students)
• Study in NL: tuition fees
• European Central Bank: euro reference rates (€1 = ₹108.99 on 29 September 2026)
• QS World University Rankings 2027 (published 18 June 2026; accessed 1 October 2026)